English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Etymology — The origins of English words

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

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From Old French barater, entering English in the late Middle Ages.

From Old French minute, from Medieval Latin minuta ("a small part, sixtieth"), tied to the same root as "minus."

From alphabet + -ical.

From Old French hore, from Latin hora, from Greek hṓra ("time, season"), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root related to "year." A doublet of "year."

From Anglo-Norman noun ("name"), from Latin nomen, "name" — the same root that gives us "nominate" and "name."

From French sémantique, built from Ancient Greek sēmantikos, "significant," ultimately from sēma, "sign."

From French dialecte, from Greek dialektos ("conversation, local speech"), from dialegesthai ("to converse").

From Old English sunnandæġ, literally "day of the sun," a translation of the Latin diēs Sōlis.

From Old English sæternesdæg, literally "Saturn's day" — a translation of the Latin diēs Saturnī, the day named for the Roman god Saturn.

From Old English frigedæg, "day of Frigg," the Germanic goddess associated with love, linked to the Roman goddess Venus.

From Old English þunresdæg, "Thor's day" — named after the Norse god of thunder, echoing the Latin dies Jovis, "day of Jove."

From Old English wōdnesdæġ, "day of Woden" — the Anglo-Saxons named the day after their god Woden (Odin), mirroring the Latin "day of Mercury," since Woden was linked to Mercury in old mythology.

From Old English tīwesdæġ, "Tiw's day" — named after Tiw, the Germanic god of war, in a translation of the Latin "day of Mars."

From Old English mōnandæġ, "day of the moon" — a direct translation of the Latin diēs Lūnae.

From Old English dæg, an ancient Germanic word ultimately traced back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to burn" — likely a reference to the heat and light of the sun.

From Latin November, from novem, "nine" — it was the ninth month in the old Roman calendar before January and February were added to the front.

From Latin octo, "eight" — October was originally the eighth month in the old Roman calendar, before January and February were added to the front.

From Latin September, based on septem ("seven") — it was the seventh month in the old Roman calendar before January and February were added to the start of the year.

From Latin augustus, "majestic, venerable," from augere, "to increase, enlarge." The month was named after the Roman emperor Augustus, whose own name came from this same root word.

From Latin Iulius, the month named in honour of Julius Caesar.

From Latin Iunius, "the month of Juno," the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth.

From Old English magan ("to be able"), the same ancient root behind "might" — the month name May comes from a separate Latin source, Maius.

From Latin Aprilis, possibly linked to the goddess Venus through an Etruscan form; the name may also relate to Latin aperire, "to open," fitting the season when buds open.

From Old French marcher, "to walk or trample," from a Frankish root meaning "to mark out with the foot" — related to the English word "mark."